Kayani to tell US to keep hands off “national security agency” ISI

Islamabad, Mar.31 (ANI): Following the intense heat that the Pakistan’s investigative agency, Inter State Services (ISI) has come under from the US as well as Britain for its alleged links with banned terror outfits, Pak Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is expected to make it clear to the United States that the ISI is a national security agency working to protect country’s national interests when a high-level US delegation arrives here to discuss the revamped US policy for Afghanistan-Pakistan next week.

The Chairman US Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke are scheduled to arrive here on April six to discuss the intricacies of the new US policy with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Washington, in recent times, has expressed concern over the reprehensible link between the Inter State Services (ISI) and the outlawed terror organizations such as Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the Taliban.

It has also charged the ISI of providing logistical support to these terror groups.

It is also learnt that Pakistan is expected to raise the issue of India’s increasing influence in Afghanistan and its continuous efforts to destabilize the country during the meeting.

According to sources, General Kayani is expected to clarify Pakistan’s stance on US’s demand for more deployment of troops along the western border with Afghanistan.

Kayani is likely to make it clear to the US that Pakistan could not withdraw its security forces from the eastern border and deploy them on western border with Afghanistan, The Nation reported.

Furthermore, Kayani is also likely to emphasize on the need for a comprehensive approach to establish peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He may ask the US to opt for selected use of force to establish peace in the region, and urge them to adopt social, political and economic means, including establishment of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs), to tackle the problem on a long-term basis.

The peace deal between the Pakistan Government and the Taliban in Swat Valley would also be discussed during the talks. (ANI)